Bhopal, Feb 5: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given away Rs 19.99 lakh from his discretionary fund to various needy persons of the state during the month of January 2008.

In this connection, Rs 7.85 lakh has been sanctioned to 34 persons for treatment of serious illness. These grants have been directly sanctioned to the concerned hospitals where these patients are undergoing treatment. Similarly, Rs 2.89 lakh has been sanctioned to 68 general patients for their treatment.

The Chief Minister has also sanctioned Rs four lakh 11 thousand to next of the kin of 11 persons who have died in different accidents. Similarly, Rs 27000 has been sanctioned to next of kin of six very poor persons who died a natural death. Besides, next of kin of a murder victim were also sanctioned grant to the tune of Rs 25000.

Chief Minister Chouhan has also sanctioned Rs 2.40 lakh in 12 different cases of accidents. He has sanctioned Rs eight lakh for the construction of a Mangal Bhawan and a Dharmshala. Grant to the tune of Rs seven thousand was sanctioned to two extremely poor persons for sustenance and Rs 5 thousand to a student for undertaking higher education.

Ministers also sanction grants

During the month of January, five ministers of Madhya Pradesh have also sanctioned Rs two lakh 20 thousand 500 from their discretionary funds to needy persons.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Narottam Mishra sanctioned Rs 34000 to seven persons, Public Health Minister Choudhary Chandrabhan Singh gave away Rs 34000 to 28 persons, similar amount was sanctioned to 10 needy persons by Energy Minister Dr Gauri Shankar Shejwar, Narmada Valley Development Minister Nagendra Singh sanctioned Rs 50000 to eight persons while Minister of State for School Education Paras Jain granted Rs 68,500 to 21 persons during the month of January.